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I was stationed on Guam not so long ago, and if I had my preferences I would be permanently settled there. We absolutely loved it and the people, though it is b

I was stationed on Guam not so long ago, and if I had my preferences I would be permanently settled there. We absolutely loved it and the people, though it is by no means perfect. The problems listed here are very real, and very depressing. I've dived all over that island, and one of the most popular dives, Seabee Junkyard [0], is a very good reminder of just how the US Government, via the US Military, treats those islands. Separately I spent some time on Tinian during that tour, on the runway that the Enola Gay launched from, and was stationed in both Iwakuni (near Hiroshima) and Sasebo (near Nagasaki) and got to see the memorials at those two locations. That was heartbreaking as well. Hopefully we don't see those events replayed. [0] https://www.mdaguam.com/destination/seabee-junkyard/ https://www.mdaguam.com/destination/seabee-junkyard/

mc32 4y ago
Is it not good practice to scuttle equipment at sea to encourage the habitat for sealife? I thought we --countries who do this-- often do it to provide marine habitat.
- MrVandemar 4y ago
  I suspect it's more to get rid of something. I can't imagine that all the oil, lubricants, fuel-residues, breakdown products and so on are any good for marine life at all. The "for marine habitat" sounds like marketing.
  - mc32 4y ago
    I’m not too sure about that. The NYC drops their old subway cars into the bay. So it depends on how the ships or vehicles are disposed: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk208-shipwrecks-habitat-feature.html https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk208-shipwrecks-ha... The main concern being ship cargo and any potential for contaminants exceeding toxicity levels.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - whydat_whodat 4y ago
      No offense, but to me I interpret your perspective as: "People with stuff to get rid of tell me its good to dump it in the ocean. They said it's a good thing, so I take their word for it without critically analyzing its actual environmental impact-- plastics, metals, chemicals used in subway cars or vehicles... hey, they said it's ok, so it must be ok!" I ain't buying it :D But then again I am an environmentalist & conservationist-- I am concerned about the apparently infinitely growing ubiquity of synthetic chemicals, due to aforementioned actions mentioned and the apparently common lack of objection (if people are even aware it is happening).
jesterson 4y ago
Not Guam, but I have been to Saipan and Tinian many times and absolutely loved it. It's not perfect like you have said and there are problems but that's the place I could totally live. All islands still have fresh footprints of WW2 horrors.

mc32 4y ago

Is it not good practice to scuttle equipment at sea to encourage the habitat for sealife? I thought we --countries who do this-- often do it to provide marine habitat.

MrVandemar 4y ago
I suspect it's more to get rid of something. I can't imagine that all the oil, lubricants, fuel-residues, breakdown products and so on are any good for marine life at all. The "for marine habitat" sounds like marketing.
- mc32 4y ago
  I’m not too sure about that. The NYC drops their old subway cars into the bay. So it depends on how the ships or vehicles are disposed: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk208-shipwrecks-habitat-feature.html https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk208-shipwrecks-ha... The main concern being ship cargo and any potential for contaminants exceeding toxicity levels.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - whydat_whodat 4y ago
    No offense, but to me I interpret your perspective as: "People with stuff to get rid of tell me its good to dump it in the ocean. They said it's a good thing, so I take their word for it without critically analyzing its actual environmental impact-- plastics, metals, chemicals used in subway cars or vehicles... hey, they said it's ok, so it must be ok!" I ain't buying it :D But then again I am an environmentalist & conservationist-- I am concerned about the apparently infinitely growing ubiquity of synthetic chemicals, due to aforementioned actions mentioned and the apparently common lack of objection (if people are even aware it is happening).

jesterson 4y ago

Not Guam, but I have been to Saipan and Tinian many times and absolutely loved it. It's not perfect like you have said and there are problems but that's the place I could totally live. All islands still have fresh footprints of WW2 horrors.